Maserati Ghibli Spyder wins Best Restoration at Motorclassica 2018

For the third year in a row, Motorclassica’s Best Restoration Award has gone to Re-Creation Automotive. In 2016 they won with a Holden HK Monaro, last year with a Mercedes Benz 280 SE, and in 2018 it was to be Barry Edge’s stunning 1969 Maserati Ghibli Spyder.

This eye catching green (officially ‘Verde Gemma’) Spyder is powered by a matching-numbers 4.7-Litre, dry sump, quad cam V8, producing around 306 bhp. With a top speed of 155 mph, and 0-60 mph in 5.8s, this machine was no slouch on its introduction in 1967. Pitched as a high-performance, luxury GT car, the Maserati Ghibli was actually $50 more expensive than a Ferrari 365 GTB4 Daytona in US showrooms.

Clean engine and clean engine bay. They don’t come much cleaner than this.

This particular example started life in the US, and was imported into Australia as a pile of dirty parts over a decade ago. A true ground-up restoration, this car has had every part painstakingly refurbished and given a new lease of life. We were lucky enough to be involved in the mechanical restoration of the car. When we received the call asking if we’d like to be involved in restoring the engine, we were thrilled. But soon after seeing the pile of parts that arrived at our shop, we realised that this was no walk in the park. Missing parts, broken parts, and a looming deadline.

4.7L, dry sump, quad cam V8, with 4 downdraught Weber carbs. Bliss.

Fortunately, the planets aligned, and we were able to produce an engine that we are truly proud to put our name on. The Jaguar-derived suspension formed a nice side-restoration project, and with a bit of patience, we were able to assemble a completely restored suspension, steering and brake package and have the car rolling on all four wheels with plenty of time to spare.

The wide V8 made for some tense moments when it came time to fit the engine!

It takes many people to pull off a project like this, and our contribution is just one small part. Trimmers, electricians, painters, panel beaters, fabricators and Maserati club members have all contributed to this stunning result. Congratulations to all involved, particularly Barry Edge, who, after 12 years of dreaming about this car being completed, is now the owner of Motorclassica’s Best Restoration of 2018.